BEHIND THE SCREEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 190, 12 August 1922, Page 18

BEHIND THE SCREEN.

■ Katherine Mac Donald is to be married at the end of her present contract. The young man is Jack Morrill, a wealthy young Chicagoan. 'Why, asks a cinema writer, do American producers spend 100,000 dollars for the rights to a widely-known story or play, and then change the title when it' is presented on the screen? Madge Bellamy is to be featured in Ince's hig production "Lorna Doon." It seems settled that she will be starred by him before the end ot" the second year. She is signed on with Ince for two more years. "At last I am famous,'' says Sir James Barrio. "I've lived in London a good many years, but it was never until charming Mary Pickford visited mc that the street outside my windows was packed with a cheering crowd."' Said the cynical movie critic, reviewing the month's events; "Un account of the mild weather, no doubt, only siv heroes were cast ashore on desert islands this month. They each had a torn shirt and a pair of trousers on." Gentleman in movie theatre (turning : to lady seated behind him): I beg your j pardon, madam, but would you mind I speaking more distinctly. Your talking haa ruined any chance of my enjoying j the show, and unless I hear clearly what you are talking about, I lose out at both ends! A report oi lilm conditions in ihe United Kingdom received by the j National Association of the Motion Picture Industry from U.S. Department I of Commerce, states that drastic censor- I ship and inforior films are given as the I principal causes for the falling oil' in attendance at picture houses in Eng- j land. Bert Lytell and Theodore Kosloff are out to run Douglas Fairbanks a race for the duelling championship of motion pictures. They have gone into active training for the large group of the fencing scenes which are to be a feature of "To Have and To Hold." Tho picture will be a George Fitzmauricc Paramount picture, with Betty Compson in the leading feminine role. Rudolph Valentino is now playing the lead for Gloria Swanson in an Elinor Glyn story, "Behind the Rocks." At the completion of this he will commence a three-year contract for Paramount, for whom his lirst appearance will be as Toreador in Ibanez's "Blood and Sand." Bene Daniels will vamp in this picture and May McAvoy will be the wife. . "Diversity of opinion is only one of the things that keep the pictures alive," said Mr. AY. R. Kemball at the annual meeting of tho Maaterton Picture Company the other day. "Sometimes when we are showing a film that I think is extra special people will tell mc that it docs Hot come up to their expectations. Similarly, when I am disappointed in a picture someone comes along and says it is first-rate. - ' Ethel M. Dell, one of the most popular authors in Xew Zealand, was responsible for the story of "The Place ot Honour," ono of tbo series of pictures written fey eminent British authors, produced by StoU», the most famous British motion-picture company. The action of the picture ia placed on the Indian frontier, and the hero U shown in captivit) among the Afghans—the savage tribe which inhwbit* the hills on the confines of the great Indian Empire. The star is Madge White, and she is supported by a particularly strong east of players. Alfred Schmid, a young millionaire society man, who is making his film debut in "All at Sea,"' in which Richard Barthehnesß.is being starred by Inspiration Pictures, says that at last'hc knows what fame is. Since it was announced that he was in this company, he has had more than a hundred proposals of-mar-riage, forty invitations to back vaudeville sketches and finance stage productions, not to mention a number of motion pictures, and he counts it a day lost when his mail docs not contain at least twenty-five request*, for financial assistance. Another titled Englishwoman is to appear before the camera. Lady Cynthia Mosley, daughter of Lord Curzon. Britain's Foreign Secretary, is soon to make her film debut. She will make a picture with Mrs. H. B. Irving, for propaganda purposes for tho Union of Societies for Equal Citizenship, in other words, suffrage. But it is said that it does not make much difference to her father in what picture she appears—it's a motion picture, isn't it? Lord Curzon is said to I be tlie last person to be interested in I films, especially where his own daughter I is concerned. Lady Cynthia married I Lieut. Oswald Mosley. member of Par j liament, and a critic of the Irish polic\ | which his father-in-law supported. It would make a nice little scenario itself. Uouglas Fairbanks is in the midst of his great spectacle film, "Robin Hood," with Allan Dwan behind the megaphone: and Mary Pickford has started production of "Tess." Both Norma and Constance Talmadge recently began woTk at the United Artists studio. Harold Lloyd is making a new comedy to follow "Grandma's Boy." Universal is working at top capvity, with Priscilla Dean. Marie Prevost"! and a number of other stars, all working daily. A large number of small independent companies are also busy. Charlie Chaplin ia making a new comedy and Edna Purvjance ifis started her first starring vehicle. William Fox, as usual, has a lot of people working. Nothing ever seems to affect them much, but they are concentrating upon "The Village Blacksmith" —a big special to follow "Over the Hill," So, altogether, it's quite like old times ii» Hollywood these days. Everyone is happy. An actor who is attracting considerable metropolitan attention right now is Louis Wolheim. Critics and the higher brows are endorsing his acting as "The Hairy Ape." in Eugene O'Neil's new play of that name. It isn't generally recalled that Wolheim has been, for a long time, a figure in the pastels. He was the horrifying executioner in "Orphans of the Storm," terrorising- poor Lillian Gish. He was a member of the cast of 'Conceit" and .also supports John Barrymore in "Sherlock Holmes."-Wolheim is probably the ugliest man ever to make the stage and screen his profession. He is an ex-college professor. His nose was smashed in a football game some years ago. It was mending when a playful friend, thinking it was a joke, smashed it a"am. Hence the hideous effect which now earns for Wolheim, combined with his genuine talents, fame and fortune. Incidentally, he"s a regular fellow. a well-educated gentleman, and a respected member of "the i